The Pope's decision ...

*Marie sits down at her desk, the letter with the papal seal lies in front of her. She crosses herself quickly and swiftly opens it wit shaking fingers. ...

After a few minutes her face grows pale and the letter drops, slowly floating like a feather before hitting the table*


*Marie screams Nicholas' name as loudly as she can, begging God that he can hear her*.

*He could hear her anywhere of course, even if his name was unspoken. He rushes through the corridors of the castle and bursts his way through her chambers to kneel at her side*


What it is my love? *heart pounding, fearful some illness hath befallen her or their unborn children*

Francis. *Hands you the letter and begins to quietly fall to pieces*.

*takes the letter gingerly as if it may bite and sees the Papal seal*


He ... the Pope choose him? *His assumes with out even reading the missive, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes threaten to fill with blood tears but he blinks them back determined to stay strong for Marie *

Yes, he has. I am now her Christian Highness the Queen of France.


...

...


...

*He closes his eyes and bows his head bringing a slender hand to rest on his forehead. In that moment his heart feels as though it has been shattered into a million peices, a pain he has never known, not even during the passing of Elaine, courses through his entire body. Everything he ever wanted ... everything he ever dreamed of has been taken away*


No ... I thought ... I hoped ...

I did too.

*Stands staring at my desk as if it will open and deliver me from this*.

It never mattered what I wished. And look, on line 107, the Holy Father even promised me monies if that is what would make me acquiesce. I ... I am so sorry.

*Anger begins to fill my heart but I quickly push it back for it will only add to your misery. Finally looks up at you and stands, taking both of your hands in mine*

Tis not thine fault. I should have seen ... part of me knew this ...

I am no match for a King


*deep breath, blood tears fill my eyes* Can .... if I am truly to give up mine true love ... can I ask for one last kiss?

You may do whatever you like, for I would rather be dead in a gutter than reign as Queen of France after you.

*Takes you in my arms, holding you close, desperately* Is there nothing we can do?

*pleading* I can not let thee go ... not like this. If I knew thou wudst be happier I wuldst glady stand aside.


*trying to hold back anger* He is a sickly child, I am a man. He can not protect you, he can not fullfill your desires. He can not even provided thee with hiers. He is a spoiled brat as well. Never wilst he put thine needs before his own as I wuldst.

I wudlst lay down mine life for thee Marie, wudst he do the same?

No *shakes head in dispair* This canst be so ... I canst loose thee. Not like this and not to him.

*Feels you crushing my ribs, but doesn't say a word for even now if the last thing I have from you is a broken rib it is worth it*.

He was not like this, I swear. He used to be the most chilvalrous kind soul. He was much like you, but he has changed. ...


*Smiles despite myself at your words*. And what are you going to do? Are you going to kidnap me? Kill me?

If I were to kill anyone it twud be him *said through gritted teeth*

I shall not kidnapp thee, I twuld never force thou to do anything against thine will. But I offer thee a choice, one I know thee wilst not accpept but I shall ask it anyway.

Give thine throne to James. Leave with me. I shall make you one of mine kind and we will live and love for eternity.

You wish me to leave mine Kingdom to a 4 year old? A 4 year old amongst these nobles! You are 30 and yet you cannot tolerate them!

I told you thou wudlst not accept. But I didst hath to ask.


I see no other way *kisses you softly* I shall pack at once

Kiss me first. Kiss me as it is the last kiss you shall ever give to me.

*caresses your cheek with a slender hand looking deep into your eyes* How can I kiss thee for the last time? How can a kiss convey what I feel for thee.

*takes my other hand and grasps one of yours placing it over my heart* Doth thou feel it, mine heart, tis breaking.

*leans down and kisses your neck softly and whispers * trust me my love *then sinks my fangs into your neck. I drinkly slowly and shallowly, my intent is not to harm you, or feed, but it is a way for me to share my thoughts and emotions with you in the most profound way a vampire can.

*at once you are hit by a great ache in your heart, as if it has been frozen in your chest then shattered into a million pieces. But then the pain fades and you feel love, a deep love you never thought possibale before. A series of images fill your head. The first time we met, you giving me the clock you embroidered for me, a vision of us as we exchanged lockets as our wedding promise. The first time we made love. These images and more come and go portraying our love, happiness, and fight to be together*

*I withdraw my fangs, having barely drank a drop, blood was not the point. I look deeply into your eyes once more*

I love thee Marie, with all mine heart, I always will. Take those memories and think kindly of me for I shall carry them with me always. I shall never love another as I hath thee ... never

*Bursts into anguished sobs that reverberate off of the walls, I care not who can hear*.

There is no place in my heart for you, for you possess the entire heart and not mere pieces of it. *Squeezes the hand that is over your heart*. We will always be forever. And besides, it is not Francis who is King of France, but I.

I shall appoint officials, I shall declare wars, I shall have my uncles for advisors and Francis will, as he always has, hunt, play and generally spoil himself.


But ... *Sobs an especially hard sob* I do not wish for you to go. No, you are my subject. You shall stay here, with me, until I say you shall go.

I only wish I could show you so easily how I feel for you as you have showed me.

Thou hath no need to show me, I hath always known what tis in thine heart.


But for what purpose shuldst I remain here Marie?

To live in agongy everyday knowing that I have lost the one thing in this world I love. I watch you and he together ...

Why? What doth Scotland hold for me now but heartache?

It holds me. The love of your life, your heart and your soul, the mother of your children. Scotland holds me, and if I go to France, there will be a place for you.

Wherever I am there will always be a place for you.

France? Thou wuldst hath me follow thee to France .... I know thou speaks true when thee says there shall always be a place for me but ....


Marie what thou asks me to do is live in torture.


And what shall thine husband think of this?

He is a little boy. He knows not what goes on between a man and a woman, and since he is King and only hears what he wishes, no-one shall tell him!

And besides, I am afraid you will kill yourself!

Thou asks me to remain to be thine lover? To committ treason against the crown?

No. I did not say that. Though 'twould be fine. You are both black-haired, short and pale. The children would not show it. But no. I was merely saying that Francis would never even suspect I was being unfaithful.

Please, we are meant to be together. If you are not with me ... what shall I do? I shall have no-one to confide in. No one to tell my plans to. No-one to laugh with.

Please, if only for me, you cannot leave me. Please.

*I can hold back my blood tears no longer*


For thee ... I shall try ... but know that everyday shall break my heart more and more.

Oh, no. *when you cry, my tears come rushing forth and I step forward to embrace you*.

*You can suddenly feel a thought hit me*.